Scaffold base device for stabilizing scaffolding

ABSTRACT

A scaffold base device  10  for stabilizing scaffolding includes an angle member  12  for engaging an edge portion of a foundation  16 ; and an extension member  18  having a first end portion  20  integrally joined to the angle member  12 , and a second end portion  22  elevated via an elevation member  26  to a substantially horizontal position. The elevation member  26  is distally disposed upon firm ground or a selected distance from the foundation  16 . First and second bottom portions  34  and  40  of a scaffold member  36  are ultimately secured upon the extension member  18.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to scaffolding for constructing brick orblock walls upon a foundation and more particularly, to a scaffold baseor scaffold support device for stabilizing scaffolding when the groundabout a foundation has become saturated or covered with water.

2. Background of the Prior Art

The ground immediately about a newly “poured” concrete foundation isoften saturated or covered with water. A problem arises when scaffoldingis disposed and assembled upon saturated ground. The weight of planks,laborers, bricks, blocks and/or other objects ultimately supported bythe scaffolding causes the scaffolding to “sink” into the ground,thereby causing the scaffolding to become unsafe and unstable withplanks on the scaffolding drifting from a horizontal orientation to anundulating trip hazard. In extreme situations, the scaffolding must bedisassembled and a temporary foundation provided for the scaffolding tobe re-assembled upon.

Prior art scaffold base or support devices use vertical members that aresecured to partially or completely constructed wall structures, andhorizontal members that are secured to the vertical members. Thehorizontal members removably receive planks that provide a horizontalsurface for laborers to work upon with relatively little room remainingto dispose bricks, blocks or other objects.

Non of the prior art provides a scaffold base or support device capableof horizontally supporting varying sized scaffolding. Further, non ofthe prior art provides a scaffold base that supports the scaffolding viaone end removably secured to the foundation, and a second end elevateduntil the scaffold base is horizontal. Also, non of the prior artprovides a device having a second end elevated by an elevating memberdisposed sufficiently distant to the foundation to ensure that “firm”ground is underneath the elevating member, thereby preventing theelevating member from sinking into the ground and de-stabilizing thescaffolding structure.

A need exists for a scaffold base device for stabilizing scaffolding,the scaffold base device being horizontally supported at one end by anexisting foundation, and at an opposite end by an elevating member.Further, a need exists for a scaffold base device that can supportscaffold members with varying distances between bottom portions, thebottom portions ultimately engaging the scaffold base device. Also, aneed exists for a scaffold base device that engages an elevating memberat a distance from the foundation that disposes the elevating memberupon firm ground, irrespective of the presence of water adjacent to thefoundation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome may of thedisadvantages associated with scaffolding assembled upon a groundsurface adjacent to a foundation upon which brick or block walls are tobe constructed.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a scaffoldbase device for stabilizing scaffolding disposed adjacent to afoundation. A feature of the device is an angle member that engages anedge portion of the foundation. Another feature of the device is anextension member having a first end portion integrally joined to theangle member. An advantage of the device is that the angle member isquickly set upon or removed from the foundation. Another advantage ofthe device is that the angle member provides stability to scaffoldingassembled upon the extension member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a scaffold basedevice that does not “sink” as scaffold is assembled upon the device,and planks, laborers and objects are disposed upon the scaffold. Afeature of the device is an aperture in a second end portion of theextension member. Another feature of the device is a conduit or “boot”secured in the aperture to increase engagement between the extensionmember and an upper portion of an elevating member. An advantage of thedevice is that the aperture snugly receives the upper portion of theelevating member, thereby increasing stability between the extensionmember and the upper portion of the elevating member. Another advantageof the device is that the second end portion of the extension member iselevated to a substantially horizontal position, thereby enablinglaborers and objects to balance upon planks disposed across a pluralityof scaffold members. Yet another advantage of the device is that theelevating member engages the second end portion of the extension memberdistally to the edge portion of the foundation, such that wateraccumulated about the foundation does not “soften” the ground supportingthe elevating member, thereby maintaining the horizontal position of theextension member irrespective of the weight of planks, laborer orobjects supported by scaffold members, which are disposed upon theextension member.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a scaffoldbase device that is relatively easy to manually elevate. A feature ofthe device is a handle integrally joined to a second end portion of theextension member. An advantage of the device is that a laborer can graspthe handle, elevate the second end portion and at the same time insertan upper portion 68 of the elevating member through the aperture in thesecond end portion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a scaffoldbase device that removably receives scaffold members varying indimension between first and second bottom portions which engage theextension member of the device. A feature of the device is a retainingmember disposed distally to the first end portion of the extensionmember, the retaining member ultimately receiving the second bottomportion of the scaffold member. Another feature of the device are guiderails integrally joined to the second end portion of the extensionmember, the guide rails ultimately secure the first bottom portion ofthe scaffold member upon the extension member. An advantage of thedevice is that a laborer can select among a number of scaffold membersto place upon an extension member without measuring the distanceseparating first and second bottom portions, thereby reducing scaffoldassembly time. Another advantage of the device is that scaffold membersare quickly disposed upon and secured to the extension member due toonly one bottom portion of the scaffold member requiring alignment andinsertion into a retaining member. Yet another advantage of the deviceis that the scaffold members remain in a vertical position after alaborer inserts the second bottom portion of a scaffold member into theretaining member, and disposes the first bottom portion upon theextension member between the guide rails, thereby reducing scaffoldassembly and disassembly time. Yet another advantage of the device isthat the insertion of the second bottom portion of the scaffold memberinto the retaining member increases the stability of an assembledscaffolding structure.

The invention provides a scaffold base device for stabilizingscaffolding comprising an angle member for engaging an edge portion of afoundation; an extension member portion having a first end portionintegrally joined to said angle member, said extension member havingmeans for elevating a second end portion of said extension member; meansfor removably securing a first bottom portion of a scaffold member uponsaid extension member; and means for removably securing a second bottomportion of the scaffold member upon said extension member, whereby thescaffold member is stabilized upon said device such that planks disposedupon the scaffold member are maintained in a substantially horizontalposition irrespective of the number of workers or objects disposed uponthe planks.

The invention further provides a scaffold stabilizing device comprisinga first end portion removably secured to a foundation; a second endportion having elevating means; and a mid-portion having means forremovably securing a first portion of a scaffold member to saidmid-portion, said mid-portion having means for maintaining the positionof a second portion of the scaffold member upon said mid-portion,whereby the orientation of the scaffold member is maintained andstabilized to promote the horizontal disposition of planks upon thescaffold member, thereby enabling workers to safely move upon the planksand to safely dispose objects upon the planks.

The invention also provides a method for preventing scaffold membersfrom sinking into saturated ground adjacent to a foundation when objectsare disposed upon the scaffold members, said method comprising the stepsof providing an angle member for engaging an edge portion of thefoundation; joining a first end portion of an extension member to saidangle member, said extension member having a longitudinal dimension thatfacilitates the disposition of first and second portions of the scaffoldmember upon said extension member; providing means for elevating asecond end of said extension member such that said extension member isdisposed in a substantially horizontal position; and maintaining thescaffold member upon said extension member, whereby the scaffold memberis maintained and stabilized upon said extension member irrespective ofthe weight disposed upon the scaffold member, and irrespective of thepresence of water adjacent to the foundation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrative embodiment thereof,will be more fully understood from the following detailed descriptionand attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scaffold base device for stabilizingscaffolding in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top, phantom elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side, phantom elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of scaffolding assembled upon multiplescaffold base devices elevated on screw-jacks and secured to afoundation with a brick wall thereupon in accordance with the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a scaffold base device for stabilizingscaffolding in accordance with the present invention is denoted asnumeral 10. The device 10 includes an angle member 12 for engaging a topportion 14 of a foundation 16; and an extension member 18 having a firstend portion 20 integrally joined to the angle member 12, the extensionmember 18 having a second end portion 22 with an aperture 24 whichremovably receives a screw-jack 26 or similar elevating member forlifting the second end portion 22 to a selected elevation above a board28 disposed upon a ground surface 30. The device 10 further includesopposite guide rails 32 for removably securing a first bottom portion 34of a scaffold member 36 upon said extension member 18; and a retainingmember 38 for removably securing a second bottom portion 40 of thescaffold member 36 upon the extension member 18, thereby stabilizing thescaffold member 36 upon the device 10 such that planks 42 disposed uponthe scaffold member 36 are maintained in a substantially horizontalposition irrespective of the number of workers or objects (not depicted)disposed upon the planks 42.

The extension member 18 is includes a longitudinal dimensionsufficiently large to dispose the screw-jack 26 a distance form thefoundation 16, such that water 11 accumulated about the foundation 16does not “soften” the ground 30 supporting the screw-jack 26 and thehorizontally supported second end portion 22 of the extension member 18disposed upon the screw-jack 26, whereby the horizontal position of theextension member 18 is maintained irrespective of the water about thefoundation 18, and the weight of the laborers and objects disposed uponthe scaffold members 36, which are positioned upon the extension member18.

The angle member 12 is fabricated from carbon steel, but similar rigid,non-deformable materials may be used. The angle member 12 includes firstand second portions 44 and 46 integrally joined via welding to form aright angle, when taking a side elevation view of the device 10 (seeFIG. 2). The first portion 44 is a metal plate having planar oppositesides 47 separated a distance (plate thickness) substantially equal tothree-eighths of an inch, the same distance normally separating bricks48 (see FIG. 5) or blocks (not depicted) when vertically stacked withmortar disposed between vertically adjacent rows of the bricks 48 orblocks. Top and bottom planar sides 47 and 49 include longitudinal andlateral dimensions equal to corresponding longitudinal and lateraldimensions of a top or bottom surface of a standard brick 48. Theconfiguration and dimensions of the first portion 44 enable the firstportion 44 to be disposed between the top portion 14 of the foundation16 and the bottom surface of the standard brick 48, when mortar isdisposed upon the top portion 14 adjacent to the first portion 44 suchthat no mortar engages either of the planar sides 47 and 49 of the firstportion 44. The disposition of the first portion 44 between thefoundation 16 and the first row of bricks 48 ultimately promotes thesecuring of the device 10 to the foundation 16 without obstructing theassembly of a brick wall 50 upon the foundation 16. After assembling thebrick wall 50, the first portion 44 is removed from the top portion 14of the foundation 16, whereupon, mortar is disposed into the gap left bythe removed first portion 44, thereby solidifying the entire brick wall50.

The second portion 46 of the angle member 12 may include the sameconfiguration and dimensions as the first portion 44, or may vary asdepicted in FIGS. 1-4 such that the longitudinal dimension of the secondportion 46 equals the longitudinal dimension of the first portion 44 topromote horizontal stability for the device 10, when an inner surface 51of the second portion 46 engages a vertical surface of an edge portionof the foundation 16. The lateral dimension of the second portion 46 issubstantially equal to the vertical lateral dimension of the extensionmember 18, thereby preventing damage to an edge portion 52 of the secondportion 46 when the device 10 is removed from the foundation 16;however, the lateral dimension of the second portion 46 may be increasedsuch that the inner surface 51 also engages an outer vertical surface 53of a cooperating brick 55 (see FIG. 5) to increase stabilization of thefirst end portion 20 of the extension member 18. Irrespective of thelateral dimension of the second portion 46, the first and secondportions 44 and 46 of the angle member 12 cooperate to engage an edgeportion of the foundation 16, thereby securing and stabilizing the firstend portion 20 of the extension member 18 via the foundation 16.

The extension member 18 includes a channel configuration having four“thick” planar side walls 54 with relatively long longitudinaldimensions and relatively short lateral dimensions that form a cavity 56within to reduce the weight of the extension member 18, whilemaintaining sufficient strength to support a relatively heavy load ofscaffolding 58, planks 42, bricks 48 and manual labor (not depicted).The extension member 18 is integrally joined via welding to an outersurface 60 of the second portion 46 of the angle member 12 such that alongitudinal axis of the extension member 18 is perpendicular to theouter surface 60. The longitudinal dimension of the extension member 18corresponds to the distance separating legs 62 of the scaffold member 36disposed upon top wall 64 of the extension member 18. The lateraldimension of the extension member 18 is sufficient to promote the totalengagement of the retaining member 38 with the top wall 64 of theextension member 18; the retaining member 38 removably receiving thesecond bottom portion 40 of the scaffold member 36 such that the bottomportion 40 snugly inserts, via bushings, conduits or similar elements,into the retaining member 38, thereby stabilizing the scaffold member 36to allow a person to “let go” of the scaffold member 36 and retrieveother scaffold components that ultimately configure a completescaffolding 58 assembly capable of supporting heavy loads.

The retaining member 38 is fabricated via four relatively small metalplates welded via edges upon the top wall 64 to form a substantially“square” hub configuration, when taking a top view of the extensionmember 18. Alternatively, the hub configuration may be replaced by anaperture through the top wall 64, the aperture being dimensioned tosnugly receive the second bottom portion 40 of the scaffold member 36. Aconduit may be secured in the aperture, the conduit snugly receiving thesecond bottom portion 40 to maintain and stabilize the scaffold member36 upon the extension member 18.

The extension member 18 further includes a deformable “boot” 66 orbushing fabricated from rubber or similar material that inserts into andthrough the aperture 24 in the second end portion 22 of the extensionmember 18. For maximum stabilization of the second end portion 22 of theextension member 18, the aperture 24 extends through bottom and topwalls 63 and 64; however, when elevating the second end portion 22 isthe only concern, an aperture 24 in only the bottom wall 63 is required.The boot 66 snugly receives an upper portion 68 of the screw-jack 26 toprevent the extension member 18 from moving or shaking upon thescrew-jack 26, when the second end portion 22 is elevated and disposedupon the screw-jack 26. The screw-jack 26 is vertically disposed upon aboard 28 or similar base material placed upon the ground 30.Alternatively, a rigid conduit 66 may by inserted through the aperture24, the conduit snugly receiving the upper portion 68 of the screw-jack26. A handle 70 is secured via welding or similar means to the secondend portion 22 of the extension member 18 to promote the lifting of thesecond end portion 22 upon the screw-jack 26, after disposing the anglemember 12 upon the top portion 14 of the foundation 16.

The guide rails 32 are metal plates perpendicularly welded to the topwall 64 of the extension member 18 via a longitudinal edge 72, such thatthe first bottom portion 34 of the scaffold member 36 is disposedbetween the guide rails 32 and upon the top wall 64. The longitudinaldimension of the guide rails 32 is sufficiently long to maintain theposition of the first bottom portion 34 upon the top wall 64,irrespective of the distance separating the legs 62 of the scaffoldmember 36, thereby allowing the extension member 18 to support varyingsizes and types of scaffold members 36. The guide rails 32, unlike theretaining member 38, do not snugly receive the first bottom portion 34of the scaffolding member 36. The guide rails 32 maintain, but do notstabilize the position of the first bottom portion 34. To stabilize thefirst bottom portion 34, the guide rails 32 are replaced with aretaining member 38 or by an aperture as discussed above (see FIG. 5).The tradeoff for stabilizing the first bottom portion 34 upon theextension member 18, is the loss of using the same extension member 18with different scaffolding members 36 with varying distances betweencorresponding legs 62.

In operation, the device 10 is fabricated from integrally joined angleand extension members 12 and 18 configured and dimensioned to cause theangle member 12 to engage an edge portion of a foundation 16sufficiently to provide stability to a first end portion 20 of theextension member 18 when disposed in a substantially horizontalposition. The extension member 18 includes a longitudinal dimensionsufficient to dispose a second end portion 22 of the extension member 18a distance from the foundation sufficient to allow a screw-jack 26 to beset upon substantially “solid” ground 30 or upon a board 28 to enablethe screw-jack 26 to elevate the second end portion 22, until theextension member 18 is disposed in a substantially horizontal positioncapable of supporting scaffold members 36 with multiple planks, laborersand objects thereupon. The screw-jack 26 must be distally disposed tothe foundation 16 a distance that prevents the screw-jack 26 from“sinking” into the ground 30 due to the weight on the extension member18.

The preferred dimensions for the angle member 12 correspond to the typeof wall being constructed. Bricks 48 for example, require an anglemember 12 having first and second portions 44 and 46 with substantiallyabout eight inch longitudinal dimensions and four inch lateraldimensions. The preferred configuration for the extension member 18 is asubstantially square configuration, when taking and end view, havingfour side walls with substantially about four inch lateral dimensionsand between seven and eight feet longitudinal dimensions. When largercylinder blocks form a wall upon a foundation 16, a correspondinglylarger angle member 12 is included, while the dimensions of theextension member 18 remain substantially the same irrespective of blocksor bricks 48 being disposed upon a foundation 16.

The device 10 is disposed perpendicularly to the foundation 16 with theangle member 12 engaging an edge portion of the foundation 16 such thata bottom side 49 of a first portion 44 of the angle member 12 engages atop portion 14 of the foundation 16, and such that an inner surface 51of a second portion 46 of the angle member 12 engages a vertical portionof the foundation 16. The second end portion 22 of the extension member18 is then elevated via handle 70 to a position that allows an upperportion 68 of a screw-jack 26 to be inserted through an aperture 24 inthe second end portion 22, the bottom of the screw-jack 26 beingdisposed upon a board 28 for stability. The jack 26 is then rotationallyadjusted until the extension member 18 is substantially horizontal. Afirst bottom portion 34 of a scaffold member 36 is disposed between twoguide rails 32 joined to a top wall 64 of the second end portion 22 ofthe extension member 18, a second bottom portion 40 of the scaffoldmember 36 is then inserted into a retaining member 38 secured to the topwall 64.

After disposing the angle member 12 upon the top portion 14 of thefoundation 16 and elevating the extension member, mortar is disposedupon the top portion 14 of the foundation where bricks 48 or blocks willultimately be positioned, except that no mortar should engage the anglemember 12. Scaffolding and bricks or blocks are cooperatively assembleduntil the wall is finished, whereupon, the scaffolding is disassembledand the device 10 is removed. A gap results between bottom walls ofbricks or blocks formerly engaging the top planar side 47 of the firstportion 44 of the angle member 12, and the top portion 14 of thefoundation 16 formerly engaging the bottom side 49 of the first portion44. The gap will not collapse from the weight of bricks or blocks abovethe angle member 12 when removed. Mortar is ultimately disposed in thegap to complete and solidify the wall construction.

The distance between the angle member 12 and the retaining member 38,typically between two to three feet, provides sufficient space betweenthe scaffold member 36 and the foundation 16 to allow a plank to bedisposed on the scaffold member 36 between the retaining member 38 andthe foundation 16, thereby allowing a laborer to assemble a brick wallupon the foundation 16. The distance between the retaining member 38 andthe two guide rails 32 accommodates scaffold members 36 varying indimension between the first and second bottom portions 34 and 40 thatare ultimately secured and stabilized upon the top wall 64 of theextension member 18. The stabilized scaffold members 36 allow a laborerto vertically position a first scaffold member 36 upon the top wall 64,and retrieve a second scaffold member 36 while the first scaffold member36 remains in a vertical position, thereby reducing scaffolding assemblyand disassembly time when constructing brick or block walls upon afoundation 16.

While, this invention has been described with reference to its presentlypreferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the inventionis limited only insofar as it is defined by the following set of patentclaims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.

1. A scaffold base device for stabilizing scaffolding comprising: anangle member for engaging an edge portion of a foundation; an extensionmember portion having a first end portion integrally joined to saidangle member, said extension member having means for elevating a secondend portion of said extension member; means for removably securing afirst bottom portion of a scaffold member upon said extension member;and means for removably securing a second bottom portion of the scaffoldmember upon said extension member, whereby the scaffold member isstabilized upon said device such that planks disposed upon the scaffoldmember are maintained in a substantially horizontal positionirrespective of the number of workers or objects disposed upon theplanks.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said angle member includesfirst and second portions integrally joined together to form asubstantially right angle, when taking a side view of said extensionmember.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said first and second portionsof said angle member are dimensioned to engage the edge portion of thefoundation such that the position of the extension member is maintainedwithout engaging a wall structure erected upon the foundation.
 4. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein said first portion includes a lateraldimension of substantially about four inches.
 5. The device of claim 2wherein said second portion includes a lateral dimension ofsubstantially about four inches.
 6. The device of claim 2 wherein saidfirst portion includes a longitudinal dimension of substantially abouteight inches.
 7. The device of claim 2 wherein said second portionincludes a longitudinal dimension of substantially about eight inches.8. The device of claim 2 wherein said first portion includes issubstantially about three-eighths of an inch.
 9. The device of claim 2wherein said second portion is substantially about three-eighths of aninch.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein said extension member includes acavity extending longitudinally therethrough.
 11. The device of claim 1wherein said extension member includes a handle member integrally joinedto said second end portion.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein said meansfor securing said second end portion to an elevating member includes anaperture in a bottom wall of said second end portion of said extensionmember.
 13. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for securing saidsecond end portion to an elevating member includes aligned apertures incorresponding bottom and top walls of said second end portion of saidextension member.
 14. The device of claim 1 wherein said means forsecuring said second end portion to an elevating member includes aconduit extending through and secured to said second end portion of saidextension member.
 15. The device of claim 1 wherein said means forremovably securing a first bottom portion of the scaffold member to saidextension member includes an aperture in a top wall of said extensionmember, said aperture being distally disposed relative to said anglemember such that the first bottom portion of the scaffold member isoptimally disposed to facilitate movement of the workers upon planks.16. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing asecond bottom portion of the scaffold member to said extension memberincludes opposing rails joined to a top wall of said second end portionof said extension member.
 17. The device of claim 15 wherein said meansfor removably securing the first bottom portion of the scaffold memberincludes a conduit integrally joined to said top wall of said extensionmember, said conduit snugly receiving the first bottom portion of thescaffold member, thereby increasing the stability of the scaffoldmember.
 18. The device of claim 15 wherein said means for removablysecuring the first bottom portion of the scaffold member includes a hubintegrally joined to said top wall of said extension member to maintainthe first bottom portion of the scaffold member upon said top wall ofsaid extension member.
 19. A scaffold stabilizing device comprising: afirst end portion removably secured to a foundation; a second endportion having elevating means; and a mid-portion having means forremovably securing a first portion of a scaffold member to saidmid-portion, said mid-portion having means for maintaining the positionof a second portion of the scaffold member upon said mid-portion,whereby the orientation of the scaffold member is maintained andstabilized to promote the horizontal disposition of planks upon thescaffold member, thereby enabling workers to safely move upon the planksand to safely dispose objects upon the planks.
 20. A method forpreventing scaffold members from sinking into saturated ground adjacentto a foundation when objects are disposed upon the scaffold members,said method comprising the steps of: providing an angle member forengaging an edge portion of the foundation; joining a first end portionof an extension member to said angle member, said extension memberhaving a longitudinal dimension that facilitates the disposition offirst and second portions of the scaffold member upon said extensionmember; providing means for elevating a second end of said extensionmember such that said extension member is disposed in a substantiallyhorizontal position; and maintaining the scaffold member upon saidextension member, whereby the scaffold member is maintained andstabilized upon said extension member irrespective of the weightdisposed upon the scaffold member, and irrespective of the presence ofwater adjacent to the foundation.